349: Chapter 349 The Arms Market Frenzy

On February 25th in Abu Dhabi, sunlight streamed through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows of the Presidential Palace, casting golden spots of light on the marble floor. This palace-style building blended modern luxury with traditional Arabic style, with gold leaf inlaid into the arched domes and crystal chandeliers refracting fine glimmers of light.

President Mohamed sat in the primary seat. The sixty-year-old UAE leader wore a traditional white robe and a red-and-white checkered kaffiyeh, his demeanor steady and composed. Before him lay three thick documents—detailed information on Xingchen Defense's five new weapons.

Gu Xinghe sat opposite him, his dark green military fatigues appearing exceptionally plain within this magnificent hall.

Mohamed spoke, his voice slow but clear: "Mr. Gu, I have seen Saudi Arabia's list. The UAE's budget is no less than theirs."

Gu Xinghe nodded: "Please go ahead, Mr. President."

Mohamed signaled his assistant to hand over a handwritten list.

UAE Procurement List

Xuanniao Intelligent Attack Aircraft: 40 units × $300 million = $12 billion

Jinwu Laser System: 100 sets × $80 million = $8 billion

Quantum Radar: 50 sets × $120 million = $6 billion

Xingtian Missile: 16 units × $250 million = $4 billion

Total: $30 billion

Mohamed added: "Everything will be settled in xingchen coins. The money is already prepared in a Xingchen Chain account."

Gu Xinghe looked at the list and couldn't help but smile: "Mr. President, you're looking to clear out Xingchen's entire inventory."

Mohamed smiled as well, a hint of pride in his expression: "Therefore, we must have priority delivery. The UAE's national defense cannot wait."

Gu Xinghe set aside his smile and said seriously: "Mr. President, Xingchen will prioritize the UAE's order. However, production takes time. The first batch of deliveries will take at least twelve months."

Mohamed nodded: "That is acceptable. As long as quality is guaranteed, the UAE can afford to wait."

Two days later, Doha.

The Qatar Emir's Palace was situated on the coast, with the azure waters of the Persian Gulf visible from the windows. This palace was even more luxurious than the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi, with walls inlaid with gold leaf and even the washbasins made of solid gold.

Emir Tamim was only forty years old, the youngest leader among the Gulf states. Dressed in a snow-white robe and an exquisite kaffiyeh, he sat in the primary seat, his eyes carrying the unique sharpness of a young man.

As soon as Gu Xinghe sat down, Tamim spoke directly: "Mr. Gu, Qatar's budget is slightly less than the UAE's, but our sincerity is no less."

He signaled his assistant to hand over a list.

Qatar Procurement List

Xuanniao Intelligent Attack Aircraft: 30 units × $300 million = $9 billion

Jinwu Laser System: 50 sets × $80 million = $4 billion

Quantum Radar: 20 sets × $120 million = $2.4 billion

Xingtian Missile: 18 units × $250 million = $4.5 billion

Supporting Ammunition, Spare Parts, and Training: Approximately $100 million

Total: $20 billion

After reviewing it, Gu Xinghe asked: "What will the Emir use for settlement?"

Tamim smiled, a hint of cunning in his expression: "xingchen coins. We just exchanged them through the Xingchen Chain. Twenty billion, not a penny less."

Gu Xinghe nodded: "Xingchen will arrange Qatar's order as quickly as possible. But it will take time."

Tamim said: "We can wait for the time. But there is one condition—help us train our operators. Qataris must learn how to use these weapons."

Gu Xinghe thought for a moment: "That's possible. Xingchen will send instructors to establish a training center in Qatar."

On February 28th, Kuwait City.

The Kuwaiti Royal Palace was more traditional than the previous two, retaining ancient Arabic architectural styles. Thick stone walls, small windows, and deep corridors made one feel as if they had traveled back several centuries.

Emir Sabah was already ninety years old, sitting in a wheelchair with a blanket over his legs. His face was covered in wrinkles, but his eyes remained as sharp as an eagle's.

Gu Xinghe walked up to him and bowed slightly.

Sabah raised his hand, signaling him to sit. The old man's voice was slow but clear: "Mr. Gu, Kuwait is a small country. But even a small country must protect itself."

He pointed to the map hanging on the wall, with Iraq to the north and Iran to the east.

"To the north and to the east, there are neighbors. Kuwait needs a sense of security."

Gu Xinghe nodded: "What does the Emir want?"

Sabah looked at the Secretary of Defense beside him. The secretary stepped forward and handed over a list.

Kuwait Procurement List

Jinwu Laser System: 30 sets × $80 million = $2.4 billion

Quantum Radar: 10 sets × $120 million = $1.2 billion

Xingtian Missile: 10 units × $250 million = $2.5 billion

Supporting Ammunition, Spare Parts, and Training: Approximately $3.9 billion

Total: $10 billion

Sabah said:

"Ten billion is something Kuwait can afford. The condition is—priority delivery. We do not want to wait too long."

Looking at this ninety-year-old man, Gu Xinghe felt a sense of respect rise in his heart.

"Rest assured, Emir, Xingchen will prioritize Kuwait's order."

Sabah nodded, a slight smile appearing on his face: "Thank you, young man. Kuwait will remember Xingchen's assistance."

On March 3rd, in Shenzhen.

In the reception hall of Xingchen Defense headquarters, the atmosphere was as tense as a stock exchange trading floor.

The waiting area, over three hundred square meters, was filled with military attachés and arms procurement representatives from all over the world. They wore different uniforms and spoke different languages, but their faces all bore the same expression of urgency.

The Pakistani military attaché was the first to rush into the negotiation room. Twenty minutes later, he emerged with a smile on his face, holding a preliminary agreement.

The Malaysian military attaché was the second to go in.

The Russian military attaché was the most unique—he didn't wait in line and went directly into the VIP room. Others watched his back with a mixture of envy and dissatisfaction, but no one dared to say anything.

The Vietnamese military attaché was the last to enter, bowing repeatedly upon exiting and saying "Thank you" in stiff Chinese.

Lin Wan held a summary sheet and walked quickly into Gu Xinghe's office.

"CEO Gu, the summary of new orders from the past three days is out."

Gu Xinghe took the form and scanned it quickly:

Pakistan

Xingtian Missile: 10 units × 250 million = $2.5 billion

Jinwu Laser System: 20 sets × 80 million = $1.6 billion

Quantum Radar: 5 sets × 120 million = $600 million

Supporting Ammunition: $300 million

Total: $5 billion

Malaysia

Xuanniao Attack Aircraft: 5 units × 300 million = $1.5 billion

Jinwu Laser System: 10 sets × 80 million = $800 million

Quantum Radar: 3 sets × 120 million = $360 million

Xingtian Missile: 2 units × 250 million = $500 million

Support: -160 million?

Total: $3 billion

Russia

Quantum Radar: 50 sets × 120 million = $6 billion

Technical Cooperation Intent: $14 billion (pending details)

Total: $20 billion (Intent)

Vietnam

Coastal Defense System (Customized): $2 billion

Total New Additions: $30 billion

Combined with the $60 billion from the three Middle Eastern countries, Xingchen Defense's total orders for this round have surpassed $90 billion.

Gu Xinghe took a deep breath: "Ninety billion... plus the fifty billion from Saudi Arabia before, that's one hundred and forty billion. That's more than the United States' annual arms exports."

Lin Wan added: "There are still over a dozen countries waiting in line. Indonesia, Egypt, Brazil, and South Africa have all sent procurement intents."

Gu Xinghe looked out the window; the Shenzhen skyline gleamed gold in the sunset.

"Have the production department work overtime. Three shifts, twenty-four hours a day without stopping."

March 5th, New York Stock Exchange.

In the trading hall, the red numbers were startling.

Raytheon stock: -22%

Lockheed Martin stock: -21%

Northrop Grumman: -15%

General Dynamics: -12%

The CNBC anchor's voice was trembling: "This is the darkest day in the history of the American military-industrial complex. A Chinese company has, in one week, snatched away customers that American arms dealers had for decades."

On the screen, an analyst was being interviewed: "Xingchen's five weapons systems completely surpass similar American products in performance, yet their prices are no lower. What does this mean? It means they aren't relying on price competition at all; they are relying on a generational technology gap."

The host asked: "Do American defense companies still have a chance?"

The analyst shook his head: "A chance? It will take them five years to match the technology of the Xingtian Missile and eight years to build a stealth drone of the same class. By the time they build them, Xingchen's next-generation products will already be out."

At Raytheon headquarters, CEO Greg Hayes sat alone in his office.

Sixty-year-old Hayes had worked at Raytheon for thirty-five years, rising from an entry-level engineer to CEO. He had experienced the defense budget cuts after the Cold War, the War on Terror after 9/11, and countless contract bids.

But at this moment, looking at the waterfall-like numbers on the screen, he felt an unprecedented sense of powerlessness.

Outside, the Connecticut sky was gloomy, as if it were about to rain.

He murmured to himself: "We spent eighty years building the world's largest arms empire. They overthrew it in just three years."

The phone on his desk rang.

It was the Chairman of the Board.

"Greg, tomorrow morning at nine, emergency board meeting."

Hayes nodded, though the other party couldn't see him. "I understand."

The call disconnected.

He looked at the stock price on the screen, then looked out the window again.

The rain finally began to fall.